Flashlight.



Pmed Jun@ 22, 1915.

- Inventor vAttorneys Witnesses HARRY T. HIPWELL, 0F PITTSBURGH,YENNSYLVANIA.

FLASHLIGHT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

latented JT une 22, 1%15.

Application filed October 31, 1914. Serial No. 869,611.

To all l2li/72,0171. t may concern Be it known that l, HARRY T. HirwELL,a citizen of the United States, residing at lil. S. Pittsburgh, in thecounty of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a anduseful Flashlight, of which the following is a specification.

rlllie present invention appertains to electric flashlights, and aims toprovide a novel and improved lens construction therefor, -whereby therays of light are condensed in order that they may be concentrated uponthe object to be illuminated..

lt is the object of this invention bto provide anelectric flashlightwith a condensing lens in connection with the main lens, whereby thegreater portion of the light rays will be concentrated in a strongpencil or stream of light of comparatively small. cross sec'- tionalarea, in order that the object to be illuminated may be illuminated withthe greatest intensity, and in order that the light may be carried for agreater distance than is possible with the ordinary flashlight havingl la single lens.

Another object ot' the invention, is to provide novel means forassembling the lenses with the body or case of the flashlight.

.lt is also within the scope of the invention, to provide a lensstructure of the nature indicated which wil be comparatively simple andinexpensive in construction, which may be readily applied toV ordinaryiashlights, and which will be eflicient and practical in use.

With the :foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combiation andarrangement of parts and in the ails of construction. hereinafterdescribed i claimed., it being understood that el ages .in they preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made with in thescope of what is ,claimed without departing from the spiritof theinvention.

The invention is illustrated in its preferred embodiment in theaccompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1" is an elevation of an electricflashlight having the improved lens structure applied thereto. the lensstructure and a portion of the flashlight being shown in 'section; Fig.2 is a cross sectional view taken onthe line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

ln the drawing, the numeral 1 Adesignates l the hollow tubular body orcase of the Hashlight, which incloses the battery or batteries 2, andwhich carries a suitable controlling switch 3.

A parabolical or cupshaped reflector 4- is fitted within one end of thebody 1, and is provided with an outturned rim or flange 5 seatingagainst the end of the body, and with a central inwardly projectingthreaded socket 6 for receiving the plug of the incandescent lanip 7.The lamp 7 is brought in circuit with the batteries 2, in any suitablemanner, preferably through the medium of` inclosed conductors 8extending from the switch 3, one conductor being electrically connectedto one pole of the batteries 2, while the other conductor is connectedto the reflector 4., which is a conductor so as to. be in electricalconnection with the lamp 7. The lamp 7 contacts with'the other pole ofthel batteries.

A ferrulel). is secured upon that end of the body 1 which incloses thereflector 4, and is threaded to receive thereon, a ring 10. The ring 10carries a funnel-shaped shell 11, which comprises the frusto-conical orflared body portion ,12, having the reduced or spout portion 13 at itssmallest end. The end of the reduced or spout portion 13 is providedwith an inturned annular flange or lip 111 which is soldered orotherwise secured to the outer edge of the ring 10, whereby the ring 10forms an extension for the spout' portion 13. The truste-conical orflared portion 12 of the shell 1,1 is provided at its largest end withan enlarged cylindrical portion or rim 15 which is threaded, and whichhas its edge inturned to provide an annular flange or lip 16.

rPhe main lens 17, which is of plano-conveXed form, has its marginalportion seated against the flange or lip 16, with the flat or plane faceof the lens facing inwardly, and a threaded retaining ring 18 isthreaded upon the rim 15 of the shell 11 and is provided at its outeredge with an inturned annular flange or lip 19 engaging the marginalportion of the lens 17 and clamping the saine against the flange 16 ofthe shell 11. The lens 17 is of relatively large diameter.

Disposed within the spout 13-1O of the,

shell 1'1 is a condensing lens 2O of relatively small diameter, andpreferably of planoconvexed form with its plane or flat face facinginwardly. The lens 2O is disposed within the ring 10 and seats againstthe flange 14 of the spout 13-10 whereby when the ring or portion 10 ofthe spout is threaded onto the ferrule 9, both the flange of thereflector 4 and the condensing lens 2O Will be clamped against thecorresponding end of the body l. It Will thus be noted that the shell l1which is of funnel-shaped form, carries the main lens and its enlarged cportion or rim, andcarries the condensing .ing through the tWo lensesWill provide a strong pencil or stream of light, Which is adapted toilluminate the object With the greatest intensit-y, and which Willextend for a considerably greater distance, than is possible Withtheordinary single lens flashlight. The light rays passing through the twolenses will be refracted so as to collect .the light rays into arelatively small stream.

With the present device, therefore, the greater portion of the lightrays are condensed in order that they may be concentrated upon theobject to be illuminated, With the greatest possible or maximumillumination, and With the greatest carryflector fitting Within one endthereof, a

ing power.

The interior of the reflector' 4 is preferably polished or otherwisetreated to pro-.

videa mirror or highly reflective surface while the interior ofthe shell11 is preferably blackened or darkened to avoid the re- .flection oflight therein, it being noted that the condensing lens Q0 is mountedWithin the spout of the shell ll lover the mouth of the reflectorv 4,While the main lens 17 l is carried by the free portion of the shell 11over the mouth thereof.

Having thus described the invention, What is' claimed is l. .Aflashlight comprising a body, a relamp mounted Within the reflector, acondensing lens disposed over the mouth of the reflector, a shelldetachably engaged over thesaid endof the lbady and having means forholding the condensing lens and reflector in place, and a main lenscarried by the free portion of the shell.

2. A flashlight comprising a body, a. reflector fitting Within one endthereof and having a flange seated against the said end of the body..I alamp disposed .Within the reflector, a condensing lens seated againstthe said flange of the reflector, a shell detachably engaged over thesaid end of the body and having an inner flange engaging the condensinglens for clamping the reflector flange and condensing lens against theend of the body, and a main lens carried by the free portion of theshell.

3. A flashlight comprising a body, a reflector fitting Within one endthereof, a lamp disposed Within the reflector, a funnel shaped shellhaving its spout portion detachably engaged over the said end of thebody, a relatively large main lens carried bythe mouthv portion of theshell, and a relatively small condensing lens disposed within the spoutportion of the shell over the mouth of the reflector, the spoutporr tionof the shell having means for holding the condensing lens and reflectorin place against the end of the body.

4. A flashlight comprising a bedy, a re flector fitting within one end.thereof and having a flange seated thereagainst, a. lamp disposed withinthe reflector, a funnelshaped shell having its spout portion -de- 0tachably engaged over the said end of the body, a relatively large mainlens carried by the mouth portion of the shell, and a relatively smallcondensing lens disposed Within the spout portion of the shell andfitting over the mouth of the reflector, the

spout' portion of the shell having an inner flange' engaging thecondensing lens for holding the same and the reflector flange againsttheend of the body.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, have hereto aflixedmy signa.- ture in the presence of two Witnesses.

HARRY T. HIPlVELL. Witnesses E. G. LANG, C. S. lHiLLIr.

